Now you see it, now you don't!!

So, my Dec. 2012 issue of Woodsmith magazine arrives and what is featured on the front cover, an “All-in-one Craft Cabinet”. Well, it looked a lot like a sewing center to me. Ah, the perfect gift for my wife who uses our kitchen counter to do her sewing projects on. So, I said to myself, I will give this to her as an upcoming birthday present; I didn’t come close to that deadline. Well, OK, I will have it done as a Christmas present; didn’t happen!!I had over estimated my abilities and under-estimated the complexity of this project.

Now it is rolling on towards spring and the outside chores are stacking up and this gift is still sitting in my shop partially completed. So, one morning I decided to spend a few minutes in the shop working on this delinquent gift before heading outside. Being somewhat in a hurry I used my thumb as a push stick while ripping a piece at the table saw. You guessed it, rather than going outside to do chores we are headed to the clinic where the doctor got to practice her sewing technique on my thumb. You ever try to do woodworking one handed? Well, now this project has literally caused me blood, sweat, and tears, and another six week delay. Not only that but the shop project has to wait on the backed up outside summer chores.

Well, I finally finished this delinquent gift up yesterday. My wife is happy and I am thrilled to get this project off my work bench. The base cabinet is made from birch with 1/4” birch plywood panel inserts. The top was originally framed with birch with 3/4” birch plywood panels but the framing warped on me so I salvaged the panels and made new frames out of hickory. Luckily for me the hickory and birch stained almost identical. The stain on the frames and is a blend of three different Minwax stains. The base cabinet and drawers are finished with three coats of spray poly. The top is finished with three coats of brush on poly.

It has been a long dry spell of down time in the shop. Hopefully, with fall approaching I will get to spend more time on projects. Thanks for looking and Oh, I have plenty of push sticks handy. Lesson learned!!

This project is featured in Vol. 35/No. 205 issue of Woodsmith magazine.

Great cabinet! The design has a bit of the late 19th century Wooten desk flare that I always admired—updated very nicely. Sorry to hear about your hand, but good to know everything is now okay—also, nice to hear others have those projects that develop a life of their own and linger in perpetuity.

-- John C. -- "Firearms are second only to the Constitution in importance; they are the peoples' liberty's teeth." George Washington

WOW and Ouch! Great design Lee! The workmanship is top notch as always, love the color too. I hope your thumb wasn’t badly hurt. I did that same thing back in 66 while making an entertainment center. Lucky that I did a shallow rip and not a cross cut!

Where’s the chair ? :)

-- Tony C St Augustine FL, My high school shop teacher said "You can do it"... Now I can't stop!

That is really cool. Great job. When I read the part about your thumb, def brought back some rather not so fond memories of a mishap I had as well many years ago, and cut off 3 fingers. Got them sowed back on and many years later, they work fine, but hate the cold weather. LOL Thanks for sharing